Welder's goggles best for observing eclipse

Accra, Jan. 13, GNA - A pair of paper framed welder's goggles and specially made eclipse shades would be the best to observe the eclipse of the sun that Ghana would observe on March 29. Dr Amamoo-Otchere, Executive Director of the Centre for Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Services (CERSGIS), said that the ordinary sunglasses and goggles did not contain silver halide, which was capable of filtering the harmful rays of the sun, hence would be unable to protect the eyes from the sunrays.

Dr Amamoo-Otchere explaining the technicalities of the eclipse to the Minister of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital City and the Members of the National Planning Committee on the forthcoming solar eclipse noted that it would be harmful to observe an eclipse of the sun with the naked eye hence the need for eye-protecting filters of the solar rays.

He suggested that filters that contained silver halides should be made and supplied cheaply to those interested in observing the eclipse. The eclipse of the sun on March 29, 2006 would move from the north-eastern coast of South America and cross the Atlantic Ocean to reach Ghana, crossing Southern Ghana, Southern Togo and Central Benin, South-Western and Central Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Libya and Egypt.

Of the seven countries in Africa Ghana would be the first to experience it in the morning 0908 hours. Scientists have predicted that the period would last for about three minutes 44 seconds. In Ghana the first communities to observe the event would be the coastal settlements between Asini and Busua in the Western Region with Busua Beach Hotel being one of the best places in the neighbourhood for tourists to gain more than three minutes of experiencing the twilight darkness.

Sekondi-Takoradi, Ho, Cape-Coast, Koforidua would be regional capitals that would be visited by the darkness. Along the coast, some high grounds will offer some advantages - two spots on high hills at Anomabo, Marcarthy Hill overlooking the Densu plain, Shai Hills and Aburi Hills at Peduase would be possible viewing spots.

Accra would experience the passing shadow for about two minutes 58 seconds. Other areas that would experience the events include Tarkwa, Prestea, Akim Oda and Kade but Obuasi would miss it.

Dr Amamoo-Otchere, however, said the greatest obstruction to observing the solar eclipse could be the presence of clouds in the sky and urged Ghanaians to be cautious of the weather during that time. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon is between the sun and the earth and its shadow moves across the face of the earth resulting in total darkness.